Stock-loader



.(NO Mo STOCK LO A .M a.

Patented July 23, 1895.

. I Q. J

I I l a Will kfiud @flv's Jin cys 1 UNrrEn STATES ATENT Orrrca.

ILLIAM J. MEAD, 0 MAPLETON, MINNESOTA.

STOCK-LOADER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,393, dated July 23, 1895.

Application filed October 9, 1894- To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. MEAD, citizen of the United States, residing at Mapleton, in the county of Blue Earth and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Stock-Loader, of which the following is a specification.

This invontion relates to improvements in I that class of stock-loaders wherein a carrier is provided upon which the stock are to be placed, said carrier being arranged to operate with mechanism for moving it and consequently the stock.

The invention lies principallyin certain improvements in the means for raising or elevating the carrier after it has received the stock, and so that it will be high enough to permit the animals to step into the device to be loaded. i

It further consists in improvements in the means for opening the discharge-gate of the loader concurrently with theraisin g or elevat ing thereof; and, stillfurther, in mechanism for applying power to the machine whereby the carrier is moved.

Other novel features are to be found in the construction of the several elements of my invention and in various minor combinations,

all of which will be more fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View of my complete machine; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinal section'thereof; Fig. 3, a detail perspective view illustrating the construction of the carrier; Fig. 4, a view illustrating a modification of the driving mechanism.

The frame of my machine is formed of two longitudinal beams 1 rigidly joined to each other by means of the cross-beams 2 mortised thereinto and nailed or bolted so as to secure a rigid structure. Rigidly secured to and arising vertically from the beams 1 are the vertical standards 3, which are six in number, three for each of the beams 1, and which have secured to their inner sides the longitudinal slats 4, thereby forming a gangway or chute between which the stock may pass. 5 indicates two brace-rods, which are secured one to each side of the gangway or chute, and

which extend from one of the standards 3 to another, as may be seen by reference to the crial No. 525,422. (No model-l drawings. Rigidly secured to the upper ends of the front standards 3, and extending from one to the other, is the cross-beam6, which serves to brace the said standards and to provide means formounting various portions of my invention,as will be described more fully hereinafter.

Revolubly mounted in the beams 8 and at the rear ends thereof is the transverse shaft 7, which serves to rigidly connect the beams 8 of the carrier-frame. The beams 8 are two in number, and located one snugly against each of the beams 1, and extend forwardly to and slightly'beyond the front standards 3. The forward ends of the beams 8 are provided with the shaft 9, which extends from one to the other, and which is revolubly journaled therein. The shaft 9 has fixed thereto a drum 10, having secured to its ends the sprocketwheels 11. shown at 12, to form substantially a drum, as may be seen by reference to the drawings. This thickened portion is provided with the sprocket-wheels 13, which are arranged at the respective ends of the shaft, and which, together with the thickened portion of drum 12, are smaller than the drum 10 and sprocketwheels 11. 1

The beams 8 are pivotally mounted on the beams 1 and at their rear ends bymeans of the studs 14, which are fixed to the beams .1 and fit within notches 15 of the beams 8. Rigidly secured to the beams 8 and extending from one to the other are the brace-rods 16, which are preferably three in number and which serve to lend rigidity to the carrierframe.

17 indicates two sprocket-chains, which are respectively adapted to operate over the sprocket-wheels 11 and 13 and which consist of an alternate sprocket-link a and solid link b. The links a are adapted to operate with the teeth of the sprocket-wheels, while the links 5 are provided to permit bolting the By these means a carslats 18 to the chain.

The shaft 7 is also thickened, as

nals 19, upon which the antifriction rollers or sleeves are revolubly mounted, the journals being so arranged that they will form a support for the chains 17, thereby preventing the carrier from sagging when under the influence of a load of stock.

21 indicates two downwardly projecting studs, which have their lower ends headed and which are provided with the rollers or sleeves 22, adapted to engage with the ends of the slats 18 and thereby form a rolling guide for the carrier. Fulcrumed t0 the upper ends of the front standards 3 are the levers 23, which extend rearwardly for a distance equal to a little less than the length of the machine and which have their rear ends joined by the cross-bar 24. The front ends of the levers 23 are formed with an eccentric and grooved portion 25, having the staples 26 secured adjacent thereto. Over these eccentricv portions the ropes 27 respectively operate, said ropes being connected to the staples 26 and passed down to the front ends of the beams 8, where they are in turn connected to the staples 28 ofsaid beams. By these means the beams S or the carrier-frame and its attachments may be raised at its forward end, and this raising is efiected by lowering the levers 23. Passed horizontally through the cross-beam 6 and projecting forwardly therefrom are two rods 29, which have at their forward ends transversely perforated heads, through the perforations of which the transverse rod 30 extends. yond the rods 29 and has fixed to its ends the bars 31, which project out from the rod and which have the slats 32 fixed thereto and extending transversely across them. This arrangement forms a discharge-gate, whereby the chute may be closed or opened, as the conditions of the operation may require, and as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Rigidly secured to the slats 32 and extending across the same and beyond the rod 30 is 5-t'he"arm 33, which has its free end provided with a cross-bar 34, to the ends of which the ropes 35 are secured. The ropes 35 are two in number and are passed rearwardly and respectively connected to the levers 23. By these means the discharge-gate is connected to the levers 23, so as to operate in unison therewith. It will be observed that the discharge-gate is so constructed that it will have a tendency to gravitate to a vertical position, and this attribute, together with the ropes 35 and their adjacentparts, makes the dischargegate operate in unison with the operations of the levers 23. Thus, as the levers are swung from a horizontal to a vertical position, the discharge-gate will gravitate into a similar position, while upon the reversal of the levers 23 the ropes 35 will operate to draw the gate into a horizontal position, thereby opening it and permitting the stock upon the carrier to pass out. Hinged to the rear end of the can rier, or to the rear of the slats 18, is the endgate 36, which is capable of swinging from a This rod projects be-' horizontal to a vertical position, and which is provided at each side with a rod 37, having at its free end a hook 38, capable of engaging the respective eyes 39 of the carrier. By these means the end-gate may be held in a vertical position, so as to close the gangway or chute, and so as to confine the animals therein, or the gate may be swung horizontally, so as to open the gan-gway and so as to also provided with a ratchet edge 44, which is adapted to be engaged by the pawl 45, piv-.

- otally mounted upon the offset-arm 46 of the tion derived from the lever 47 will, of course,

be a rotary one.

In the use of my invention, supposing that it is desirous to load cattle or other stock upon a wagon or railway-car, all that will be necessary is to swing the levers 23 to a vertical position and move the end-gate 36, so that it will lie horizontally. The stock may now be driven upon the carrier and between the framework of the gangway or chute,the front end of theloader having been first placed adjacent to the rear end of the wagon or the door of the car. The end-gate should now be closed and the levers 23 swung to a horizontal position, which will open the discharge gate and simultaneously raise the front end of the carrier. This will place said end on a level with the device to be loaded, thus making it possible to move the stock off of the machine and directly into the place designed for their reception. This moving of the stock is effected by causing the carrier to move over the drums l0 and 12, the shaft 9 being revolved by means of the gear 42 and lever 47. As the carrier is raised the gear 41 will be made to mesh with the gear 42, whereupon it will be possible to revolve the gear 41 and the shaft 9 by imparting to the gear 42 a rotary movement. This rotary movement is imparted to the gear 41 by means of the lever 47 and pawl-and-ratchet mechanism thereof, as has been explained.

It will be observed that considerable power will be necessary to operate the carrier, and

to this end it will be necessary to construct This arrangement may be used in place of the lever 47, and when so employed the pawl-andratchet mechanism attending the said lever may be dispensed with. It will be necessary, however, to use the pawl 45 whether the wheel 49 be used or not, since some means'for preventing the return of the gear 42 are always necessary.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the'minor details of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the substance thereof. Therefore I desire it understood that I am not limited to the precise form of embodiment herein shown, but am entitled to all such variations as come within the above definition.

Having described the invention, I claim- 1. In a stock loader, the combination of a frame provided with vertical sides forming a chute or gangway, a carrier frame located longitudinally therein, a carrier mounted on the carrier frame, the carrier frame being capable of havingits front end swung in a vertical line, a drum journaled in said front end of the carrier frame andoverwhich the carrier passes, a gear fixed to said drum, a driven gear mounted on the frame of the ma chine, a lever fulcrumed on the frame of the machine and connected to the carrier frame whereby the front end of the carrier frame -may be raised, and whereby the gear of the drum may be engaged with the driven gear,

and a discharge gate connected to the lever so as to be operated in unison therewith, substantially as described.

' 2. In a stock loader, the combination of a frame, a carrier mounted therein so that one end will be capable of swinging in a vertical line, a drum at said end of the carrier and over which it operates, a gear fixed to the drum, and a drive gear mounted on the frame of the machine and with which the gear ofthe drum mayengage when the carrier is ing a chute or gangway, a carrier frame mounted therein and pivoted at one end so that the remaining end will be capable of swinging in a vertical line, a drum journaled in the said movable end of the carrier frame, a carrier operating over said drum, a gear fixed to the shaft of said drum, a drive gear fixed to the frame of the machine and adapted to be engaged by the gear of the carrier frame when said frame is raised, a lever fulcrumed to the frame and connected to the carrier frame whereby the carrier frame may be raised, and a'discharge-gate mounted upon the frame and connected to the lever, whereby it will be manipulated in unison with the carrier frame, substantially as described.

4. In a stock loader, the combination of a frame, a carrier arranged longitudinally therein, a gear fixedto the frame and capable of connection with the carrier, -a ratchet-disk fixed-to the gear, a stop-pawl for preventing back movement'thereof, a sweep lever pivotally mounted at the axis of the ratchet-disk, and a pawl on said lever and operating with the disk, substantially as described.

5. In a stock loader, the combination of a frame provided with vertical sides forming a chute or gangway, a stock carrier located longitudinally therein and arranged to have one end capable of swinging in a vertical line, and drive mechanism fixed to the frame and capable of being engaged and disengaged with the. carrier as the same moves as aforesaid, whereby power may be transmitted to the carrier and the same operated, substantially as described.

6. In a stock loader, the combination of a frame provided with vertical sides forming a chute or gangway, a stock carrier located therein and arranged to have one end capable of swinging in a vertical line, means for raising and lowering said end of the carrier, a gate commanding the open-end of the chute or gangway and connected to the operating mechanism of the carrier so as to be opened WILLIAM J. MEAD.

' Witnesses:

O. G. WrJOHNSON, JOHN SOHMOOCK.

ICC 

